Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Last Saturday, the Viterbo University women's basketball team flirted with an upset bid of a nationally ranked opponent but was unable to pull it off. Today was a different story as they defeated #8 Mount Mercy University 54-51 in Midwest Collegiate Conference action.

Mount Mercy would take a 18-12 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the opening period but Viterbo would only allow them to score five points the rest of the first half. Viterbo would turn that defense into offense as they outscored Mount Mercy 19-5 over the final ten minutes. Viterbo shot 11-24 from the floor in the opening half including hitting six three pointers. Senior Brook Anderson (Iola, Wis.) led the V-Hawks in the first half with nine points all from behind the three-point line. Fellow senior, Paige Babiash (West Salem, Wis.) also added nine points in the opening period.

Viterbo remained in control to start the second half as they expanded their lead to 12 (37-25) on a three-pointer by Babiash. Viterbo would lead 44-37 at the midway point of the second half before Mount Mercy would make a run. The Mustangs used a 14-5 run to take a 51-49 lead with two minutes to go in regulation. But that would be the final points the Mustangs would score as the V-Hawks got a three-pointer by Anderson and two free throws to close out the scoring.

Babiash led all scorers in the game as she finished with 15 points while Anderson chipped in 13 points. Junior Laquita Becker (Caledonia, Minn.) was the top rebounder for the V-Hawks as she pulled down 8. Micha Mims led the Mustangs with 12 points and 7 rebounds. As a team, the V-Hawks finished 18-49 (36.7%) from the floor including 11-29 (37.9%) from behind the three point line. Mount Mercy finished 17-52 (32.7%) from the floor and finished with a 37-35 edge on the boards.

The win moves the V-Hawks to 9-12 overall and 7-2 in MCC action; the Mustangs fall to 15-6 overall and 7-2 in conference play. Viterbo remains a game back of first place in the MCC as Grand View University improved to 8-1 with a win today. Viterbo will be in action next when they travel to Dubuque, Iowa on Monday night to face the Crusaders of Clarke University. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 pm.